Unseasonable conditions prompt “extreme fire danger” at Pinnacles

It might be late October but people all across the Central Coast are dealing with unseasonably warm conditions. One of Monday’s hot spots was Pinnacles National Park, where fire danger is listed as extreme.

“Everybody has to be careful,” said hiker Ruben Fuentes, visiting from Monterey. “I mean that’s just the way it is this time of year in California. It’s very dry everywhere.”

Fuentes been coming to the park for decades. He says Monday’s mid-90s high is far from normal. In fact, the fall is one of the times the staff at Pinnacles recommends visitors come to the park because it’s generally cooler, but not today.

“It’s pretty surprising for this time of year,” Fuentes said. “Usually, it’s not quite this hot.”

The heat is going to stick around for at least the next few days prompting park officials to raise the fire danger to extreme. The staff is prohibiting the use of campfires and charcoal grills throughout the park. Smoking on the trails is also a no-go.

“Having watched Napa (and) Sonoma the last few weeks I am definitely aware of fire danger,” a hiker named Tom from San Mateo said.

At Pinnacles, a slight cool down is expected Friday, when temperatures drop down to the 80s, which much more seasonable for this time of year.